Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Golden Sun Gives in to Instinct
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Once dinner was cleared away, Do-yeon excused herself to sort through some documents, leaving Do-jin and me alone.
"Hyung, wanna step out onto the balcony for some fresh air? Grab a drink each."
"Oh, yeah, sounds good."
Do-jin opened the fridge and peered inside before making a few suggestions.
"Hyung, feel like a beer? Noona likes fruit beers, so we've got plenty."
"Hey, man, I'm still underage."
"Ahem, just checking."
I could guess why he'd asked.
The body I'd possessed had a reputation for getting into trouble with booze and parties, and Do-jin knew the rumors, so he'd probably offered out of curiosity.
Sure, I enjoyed a drink myself, but no need in a situation like this.
"Grab me a zero cola. Those have been hitting the spot lately."
"Ah, got it."
Do-jin pulled out two zero colas and led the way. The balcony door slid open with a soft rumble, revealing a serene view of quiet upscale homes. A gentle, pleasant breeze drifted in.
"Feels so peaceful in a rich neighborhood like this."
"...Yeah, I still haven't gotten used to it. Until recently, we were crammed into a 13-pyeong basement apartment."
Fair enough—who could've predicted his family suddenly coming into tens of billions? Even I'd struggle to adjust. As we sipped our drinks in the breeze, Do-jin tossed out a question.
"Hyung, there's something I've always wondered about."
"Yeah? What's up?"
"Why are you so dead set on winning Sejong Cup? It doesn't feel like just 'aim high' motivation."
"……."
How to explain this?
Saying "I'll die if I don't win" would just come off as a joke.
'...Wait, my chances of dying are basically zero now, right?'
The other condition for survival and the wish ticket—getting drafted in the first round—was as good as done.
Experts unanimously agreed I'd go no later than the mid-to-lower first round.
Overcoming the pitching yin blocked meridian after all that hardship, clearing the yang meridian to restore the Solar Divine Meridian, knocking out two Kangho High aces, skyrocketing to first-round status. Had I ever grinded this hard even in my past life?
I could coast now, play for fun, call it a day. But that's not me.
'I still want to try it—winning Sejong Cup.'
It started as my personal issue, dragging all these people in. At first, I saw them as mere tools for survival.
But not anymore.
Now, every one of them loomed large in my life.
I wanted to cherish this moment and go as far as I could.
A soft chuckle escaped me.
Do-jin's question had crystallized my vague thoughts. But voicing that sincerity felt too embarrassing.
'Too hot to admit.'
Instead, I pulled out a casual deflection.
"Sejong Cup's the kind of goal worth betting your youth on. And it's my last shot this year, so I'm extra desperate."
Do-jin tilted his head, looking surprised.
"Youth? Never thought I'd hear that word from you, hyung."
"What, doesn't suit me?"
"...Honestly? Kinda not."
Squeeze!!
"Got a problem with that, punk?"
"Guhk, no...!"
His face turned blue in the headlock, tapping out. He'd been shy just yesterday, but now he bantered easily. He could handle vice-captain next year when I'm gone.
Come to think of it, I had a question too.
"Oh, yeah. I've got one too."
"Doesn't matter what it is—ask away, hyung. Make yourself at home."
"Hmm... how to put this."
"...?"
Do-jin seemed unfazed by any topic. I pondered briefly, then spoke.
"Your parents... they're not around anymore, right?"
"Ah...."
"I mean, I've never seen them. No family photos either."
He went quiet at my question.
Anyone might think I was some psycho dropping deadbeat dad bombs, but hey, same boat here—immune. Still, I wanted to address it once.
'Do-yeon noona mentioned it before. Do-jin had a really tough upbringing.'
No trace of both parents in this huge house screamed backstory. And sure enough, my hunch was right.
"Guess I never told you, hyung. Mom passed from an incurable disease—about seven years ago."
"...Ah."
"And, uh...."
Do-jin hesitated a moment but pressed on.
"Do Hak-hoon, president of the Korea Baseball Federation—know him?"
"Who doesn't? Sort of."
Post-possession, I'd seen him in papers occasionally, but in the original story, he was infamous for his ruthless purges.
'Wiped out every player with school violence records, no mercy.'
The fallout canceled drafts for top high school prospects, multiple teams got hit with suspensions gutting their rosters.
Big impact in the story; name stuck out too.
"That's our dad. Well, practically strangers now."
"What...?!"
'No way...'
It all clicked perfectly.
Timelines matched.
Do-jin's original suicide synced with the president's rampage.
"...Mind filling in the details?"
"Sure."
Do Hak-hoon, father of Do-yeon and Do-jin.
He'd been a backup infielder in the Korean league, building a happy family.
Do-jin, a baby then, barely remembered, but young Do-yeon idolized her dad handling grunt work for the team.
'Daddy's the best...! I'll marry a cool baseball player like you someday...!!'
'Do-yeon will have it easy—plenty cooler than Dad out there.'
'Daddy's the coolest to me...!! The best!!'
'Heh, makes me happy. Dad thinks Do-yeon's the best too.'
But discord seeded the home one day, escalating to extremes.
Crash!
'How dare you lay a hand on me...!'
Deepening fights ended with Do Hak-hoon striking his wife and storming out—soon remarrying another woman.
Siblings left with mom.
She withered from her illness daily, but dad sent zero support for treatment or living.
'He's a monster... a monster...'
Beep, bzz, beep—
'Mommy, Mommy...!!'
Their hardships began.
Maternal family gave pocket change; paternal side skipped even her funeral.
Do-yeon, middle school third year, juggled multiple part-times to keep them afloat.
The year she turned twenty, Do Hak-hoon showed up.
"...Do-yeon, forgive this father?"
She refused coldly.
Still tough, but unforgivable—he'd abandoned them at their darkest.
'I see...'
He slunk away, shoulders slumped.
Do-jin, spying secretly, snuck out to tail him.
And witnessed it.
Dad's tears.
'Sob, guhk, ugh....'
Do Hak-hoon sobbing on a park bench—not the monster mom cursed, just an ordinary broken man.
"That's when I thought maybe there's more to it. Even so, can't forgive him for noona's suffering."
"...Hmm."
Complicated family here too.
I agreed something was off.
No heartless man would hunt players like rats over a discarded son's bullying suicide.
Especially at his level—much to lose.
'...Can't say it won't happen now.'
All I could do was pat Do-jin's shoulder.
"Must've been rough."
"I just rode noona's coattails. She's the amazing one."
Do-jin added how she juggled fast food, flyer distribution, and BBQ joint gigs while acing school with classmates' discards.
Truly impressive.
Beyond smart—solid as a rock.
"She's incredible. Never mentioned it."
"Not exactly a story to brag about."
He slurped the last of his cola, tossed the can, shook his hands, stretched.
"...Whoever marries noona hit the jackpot. Looks, self-sufficient for inner duties, smart, loaded now. Top bride material?"
He eyed me pointedly.
From a guy's view, yeah—irresistible appeal.
"Fair. No guy wouldn't want that."
Do-jin's eyes lit up.
He pounced.
"Hyung, throwing your hat in? If you want, I could put in a word."
"Nah, punk. Too good for a bonehead like me."
"Tch...."
'Not like I feel nothing—lying if I said so.'
Past life, crowds chased my looks, but Do-yeon ranked top fingers. Plus insane talent.
Issue: too perfect. Four-year gap adds an uncrossable wall feel.
This easy camaraderie suited best—mutual aid when needed.
As I mulled Do-yeon, Do-jin dropped an intriguing nugget.
"Oh, right, hyung. We've got a fun setup at home."
"Fun setup?"
"Yeah, open-air bath on the roof."
"Open-air bath...!?"
"Yep. Clean water mixed with premium minerals for perfect onsen vibes. Tried it a few times—kills fatigue."
"Oh ho...."
I love soaking in hot water. Just no facilities at home or school.
'And this game has onsen buffs?'
Good baths sometimes boost fatigue recovery. His sounded prime for it.
Semiquit on Seoul spots—jackpot!
"You started today, must be beat. Go now—water's primed."
"Okay, heading up now?"
Excitement bubbled—rare thrill.
I crumpled my empty can, tossed it, slid the door open.
Pausing to check.
"No one's up there now, right?"
"... ."
Do-jin paused, then grinned faintly.
"Nah, obviously not."
I'd realize soon.
Should've caught it then.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Whoa, here it is...!"
Full open-air bath setup. Japanese vibe—bamboo walls, granite stones artfully around the pool.
'Spent a fortune.'
Minimum billions.
Do-yeon raked it in big.
"Ahh, refreshing..."
Plunged midway in. Pure bliss.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You've soaked in a mid-to-high-grade open-air bath! Fatigue recovery speeds up by 20%. 'Ooh, just as expected...!'
Mid-to-high-grade even.
Top-grade needs natural hot springs like Japan—grateful for this in Korea.
'Gotta visit often.'
Grinning like an idiot, something caught my eye. Another bather already there.
"Eh, Do-yeon noona?"
Eyes met with Do-yeon, who'd arrived first.
"...!?!"
Her pupils shook.
Us two, towels barely on, in the bath.
Reality hit.
"Do-yeon noona...?!"
"Seong-muk...?!"
We jolted apart. What the hell situation is this?
"S-Seong-muk? Why are you here...?"
Do-yeon stammered, face beet red like it'd burst. I was just as flustered.
"Tch, Do-jin said to come up. Swore no one was here..."
"Do-jin..., no way?"
Do-yeon seemed to suspect something.
I aimed to bail fast.
"My bad. Should've checked... I'm out."
Standing to leave—
"Wait."
Slap!
She grabbed my arm hard.
"Do-yeon noona?"
"...Seong-muk, wanna talk alone a bit?"
"Huh?"
"Just a moment, please."
Glancing back at her plea, breath caught.
Flushed cheeks from shyness, towel failing against her killer curves.
Water droplets beading atop.
Overstimulating.
Zing...!!
"...!!"
Tingly surge inside.
Lower body, drained from pitching, signaled. Like 'Oh, can't resist this...!!' Raring at slightest prod.
'Damn, popped up...'
Stay, and it'd repeat Olivia's house disaster.
Exposing to best friend's sister? Nightmare future, no thanks.
'Reject and bounce.'
"Seong-muk?"
"...Yeah?"
Her voice yanked me back. Pleading tone renewed.
"C-Could you...?"
"...!"
Damn, even that—no dice. Firm no.
"...One sec."
Ah, fuck.
I surrendered to instinct.
Men are such pitiful creatures.